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Spring Arena

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Tradition and Culture Our Only Source of Unification in Nigeria-Ooni of Ife

‘’Nigerian should rather move
forward with looking at culture, tradition in diversity, this is by no means
the best thing that has been uniting us from inception’’ Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The Oni of ife stated this at
command and staff college where he told the audience the importance of one Nigeria
and the need for its sustainability.

The Ooni, said yesterday that
religion had become a poisoned chalice in Nigeria, which is driving the country
apart. Oba Ogunwusi spoke in Abuja as guest speaker at the National Defence
College, Course 25. On the theme, “Socio-cultural Development and National
Security: the Role of Traditional Institutions in Nigeria.

The Ooni’s comment came amid
worries by security agencies about the increasing spate of inflammatory
religious comments, particularly, on social media.

According to him, though Nigeria is
diverse culturally, such diversity is the melting pot and strength of the
country.

He said, “Religion has continued to
divide us apart, religion is tearing us apart, we have to set aside religion,
else, religion will continue to divide and destroy us.”

The Ooni maintained that culture
remained the most unifying instrument in nation building, stressing,
“Traditional institutions play pivotal role in national security and
development.”

He told the gathering that through
the adoption of traditional institutions as bridge builders and peacemakers, he
had been able to ensure that the “Ife, Modakeke war will never come up again.”

The Ooni also told the participants
that there was an urgent need to include traditional institutions in the
process of law making, obviously reiterating the need for a constitutional role
for traditional rulers in the country.

Earlier, the Commander of the
National Defence College, Abuja, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, explained that the
forum provided ample “opportunity to learn from the custodian and cherished
traditional heritage.”

Alade harped on the imperative of
the traditional institutions, stating that they are dependable partners in
national security.